Wrap: Top-ranked Rockets win 2 at Jamboree

MINOOKA -- Burlington Central's softball team found its offense here Friday at the Stone City Jamboree, and it couldn't have come back at a better time.

After being limited to just 4 runs in 3 games earlier in the week, the top-ranked Rockets broke loose for 13 runs in 2 games Friday, beating Plainfield South 6-3 in eight innings and Lemont 7-4 at the annual college coaches showcase event hosted by Ed Serdar and the Stone City Sharks.

The wins run the Rockets' record to 28-1 and their winning streak to 20. They will play a single game at Leyden today and host Woodstock on Monday before beginning Class 3A regional play at Rosary on Tuesday.

"This was a good day for us," said BC coach Scot Sutherland. "I came down here hoping to at least split and we walked away with better than I expected."

In their opener against Plainfield South (22-7), the Rockets broke out of their offensive slump in the fifth inning, breaking a scoreless tie when Kayla Oranger and red-hot Brittany Priest, who was moved up to No. 2 in the order, came up with back-to-back RBI singles to drive in Abby Morrow and Lindsay Lange, who had singled and reached on an error respectively.

The Cougars scored an unearned run off BC senior Erica Maisto in the sixth and tied the game in the seventh when Jackie Frey cranked a one-out line drive home run over the right field fence off BC junior Mackenzie Scott, who had come in to start the inning.

Playing the international tie-breaker in the top of the eighth, the Rockets broke the game open with 4 runs. With Priest at second, Brook Porto laid down a sacrifice bunt which was followed by Sam Gruner blooping a hit into center past a drawn-in infield. An infield error on Maisto's grounder scored Priest, an Ashley Scheffler single loaded the bases and Morrow delivered an RBI single to make it 4-2. Then, on Jordan Maisto's comebacker, Plainfield South pitcher Akyssa Schrader threw wildly to home and two more runs scored.

Schrader doubled home a run in the bottom of the inning but Scott struck out the side to gain the win for her team.

Maisto pitched 6 strong innings, allowing 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk.

"I felt real good today," said Maisto who woke up sick at midnight Thursday. "I believe this shows people we can play with anybody and not just the teams in our area. These teams have solid pitching and defense, and this shows we can play competitively with the big teams."

Priest continued her hot hitting with a 3-for-3 game, while Morrow added 2 hits for the Rockets.

"Erica threw great, Mac really hit her spots in the eighth inning We made some nice defensive plays and we came out and got some hits. I was very pleased with the way we swung the bats in that game."

In the win over Lemont (19-9), the Rockets pounded out 13 hits and had a 7-1 lead until the bottom of the seventh when Lemont hit a 3-run homer to make the game close.

Oranger (3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 SBs), Priest (2-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI), Porto (2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI), and Gruner (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) led the onslaught.

Scott (15-1) got her second win of the day, allowing 4 hits with 9 strikeouts and 7 walks.

Stagg 5, Bartlett 3: Playing the final game of the Jamboree, Bartlett had a 3-0 lead and Lauren Wydra carried a 1-hitter into the sixth inning when the Hawks committed 2 errors and Stagg (24-7) got 4 hits and scored 5 runs.

Wydra suffered the loss, allowing just 2 earned runs and 5 hits while striking out six and walking one.

Steph Jones had 2 hits including an RBI double for Bartlett (26-6), while Megan Morales homered and Elizabeth Kay had an RBI triple.

Cary-Grove 6, Dundee-Crown 2: The Trojans' Kristen Bauer picked up her 10th win this season pitching 7 innings with 3 strikeouts to defeat Dundee-Crown in the Fox Valley (Valley). Amy Palminteri (2-for-3), Maggie O'Brien (2-for-2) and Alexis Haley (2-for-4, RBI) all led on offense for Cary-Grove (17-13, 9-6). For the Chargers Lauren Howlett had a triple. Emilie Kerkman suffered the loss in the circle pitching all 7 innings with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks.

Larkin 5, St. Charles East 3: The Royals' Sophie Sterricker scored big at the plate going 2-for-3 with a grand slam home run and a double to help Larkin defeat St. Charles East in Upstate Eight action. Ellis Hatchett (3-for-4) and Sarah McCleary (2-for-3) both added a double for the Royals (5-22,5-13). Meghan Johnson started in the circle pitching 4 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 1 strikeout. McCleary then came in to finish the job pitching the final 3 innings allowing just 1 hit with a pair of strikeouts.

"It was our best played game of the year and it couldn't have come at a better time" said Larkin coach Larry Hight.

St. Charles North 6, Streamwood 1: Streamwood fell to the North Stars in Upstate Eight action. Danielle Vida led the Sabres (8-21, 6-12) after just recovering from an injury going 3-for-3. Jessica LoRusso (1-for-2), Adrienne Pisano (1-for-3) and Arielle Gallione (1-for-3) all added hits for the Sabres. Barb Posinger (7-17) suffered the loss in the circle allowing 9 hits with a strikeout in 7 innings.

South Elgin 10, Elgin 0: The Storm's offense exploded at the plate collecting 12 hits and posting 10 runs in just 5 innings. Kimberly Pierce led SE going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, a double and home run. Lauren Vitiello (2-for-3) and Caitlin Stredde (2-for-2, 2 RBI) also contributed at the plate. Rebecca French pitched 5 innings allowing only 4 hits and fanning 7 batters for the win.

Huntley 9, Grayslake Central 3: The Red Raiders pounded out 14 hits at the dish to push past Grayslake Central in the Fox Valley (Fox) Conference. Jenna Mychko led Huntley (21-8, 13-2) going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Shannon Ryan and Amanda Omiatek both went 2-for-3 while Amanda Wisniewski was (2-for-4, 2 RBI). Samantha Clemons (18-5) improved on the season pitching all 7 innings with 4 strikeouts giving up only 1 earned run for the win.

Johnsburg 8, Prairie Ridge 2: The Wolves (18-10, 10-5) battled but fell short in this Fox Valley (Fox) Conference contest to Johnsburg. Johanna Turner suffered the loss in the circle pitching all 7 innings fanning 5 batters with no walks. Kari Rankin (1-for-3) collected one of the Wolves' 3 hits with a double.